Marshall city council votes to pause all data center development
The Marshall City Council in Illinois unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on new data center development within city limits. This action is now prompting Clark County officials to explore similar measures, despite challenges related to their lack of county zoning, as they seek ways to restrict potential projects.
The Marshall City Council in Illinois has unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on all new data center development within city limits. This decision, one of the first data center moratoriums in the Wabash Valley passed by a city rather than a county, aims to provide city officials with time to understand and regulate potential data center projects, according to Ward 3 Alderman Warren LeFever. Mayor John Hasten emphasized the need for this preventative measure, citing concerns about modern data center components being smaller and potentially moving into residential areas.
The Marshall Council's action has spurred discussions within the Clark County board, which is now exploring its own options to restrict or slow data center projects, despite lacking county zoning ordinances. County officials are consulting with the county attorney to determine appropriate next steps, with one official noting that a moratorium is "on the table." There is a belief among county board members that no one supports data centers without proper regulation.